Lubricant pump structure



Oct. 23, 1956 J. F. CARTER 2,767,390

"LUBRICANT PUMP STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 23, 1953 INVENTOR.

' J l 1. John ZQzz ier 'M l (I @373/71/1/1/1/11/ 35M I 9 94M United States Patent Ofiice 2,767,890 Faterited Oct. 23, 1956 2,767,890 LUBRICANT PUMP-STRUCTURE John F. Carter, Bryan, Ohio, ass ignor'to Aro Equipment Corporation, Bryan, Ohio, acorporation-of Ohio Application November 23, 1953, Serial No. 393,199 2 Claims. C1. 222 386 This invention relates to a lubricant pump structure in which the combination of an extension sleeve for "the intake tube of the pump and a follower sli'dable on this sleeve cooperate to make possible the complete reception of the contents of a taller-thanmorm'al lubricant drum into a pump mounted onthedrum. I

One object of the invention is 'to provide 'a relatively simple and inexpensive extension tube and follower plate combination that canbe readily mounted on lubricant pumps, either at the time of manufacture of the pump or as a unit to be installed on an intake tube ofa 'purnp already in the field.

Another object is to provide a means for efiective'ly operating a follower plate in a taller-than-normal lubricant. drum and at the same time insure complete withdrawal of the contents from the (ln'lr'fi itlithout the necessity of having to decant the portion of the lubricant in the drum below the normal intake tube of the pump which would terminate at an elevation above the bottom of a drum of normal height.

Still another object is to provide a pump tube extension which slides and seals on the original intake tube of the pump and a follower which slides and seals on the extension tube, the arrangement being such that it is adapted for operation on both normal and taller-than-normal drums.

A further object is to provide the double seal arrangement mentioned in the last paragraph in order to effectively hold the vacuum created under the follower plate by the pump, thus pulling the plate down continuously as the pump is operating with the help of atmospheric pressure on top of the plate.

Still a further object is to provide an extension tube and follower plate arrangement wherein the follower plate may be positioned adjacent the top of the tube when the pump is first placed on the drum of lubricant and in which the extension tube is provided with a means to limit the downward motion of the follower plate thereon so that the follower plate will propel the extension tube downwardly to effect an extension of the lower end of the intake tube of the pump as the follower plate passes below the plane of this lower end and continues its movement on down to the bottom of the lubricant drum.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my lubricant pump structure whereby the objects contemplated are obtained as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a lubricant pump structure to which my invention may be applied.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the lubricant drum and shows my follower plate and extension tube in side elevation and mounted on the intake tube of the pump.

Fig. 3 is a similar sectional view of the lower portion '2 of Fig. 2with the follower plate and extension tube near their lower limits of movement; and

Fig. 4 is "a horizontal sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. '3 to show details and particularly a pair of seat ing means which I provide.

On the accompanying drawing I have used the reference numeral 16 to indicate a lubricant drum of the type usually provided for service station use. These drums inth'e standard lb. size have a bottom at the position shown by the dash line 10a in Fig. 2 for which most lubricant pumps are designed, as will hereinafter appear.

The reference numeral 12 indicates alubricant pump mounted on a cover 14 for the drum 10 and having a depending boss 16 below the cover from which an intake tube 18 extends downwardly and terminates adjacent the line 10a. This intake tube has a plurality of inlet open tags 20 adjacent the lower end thereof for sucking the lubricant in under the action of the pump and the lubricant is then pumped out through a hose 22 as shown in Fig. l'to a control nozzle 24.

1201b. lubricant 'drums are now being manufactured and a pump designed specifically for them of course may have .a longer intake tube 18, but for those pumps already in the field there is the problem of having to decant the lubricant below the line 10a. At the same time, it is desirable to have a lubricant pump which can operate in both the short lubricant drum and in the taller-their normal one illustrated in patent drawing.

, My invention which solves this problem consists of the combination of an extension sleeve 28 and a follower plate 42, the details of which will now be described.

The extension sleeve 28 has a bushing 30 in its top end and a bushing 32 therebelow, the {parts being brazed or otherwise suitably seemed together. Between the bushings 30 and 32 is a space in which I mount a seal ring such as one of the O-ring type indicated at 34. This rin seals on the intake tube 18 of the pump 12.

The follower plate 42 has a hub 43 surrounding the extension sleeve 28 and slidable thereon. The hub 43 is sealed relative thereto by a sealing or O-ring 44. The outer edge of the follower plate 42 may be grooved to receive a tube 46 of rubber, neoprene or the like to serve as a seal and wiper against the inner wall of the drum 10. The element 46 is not an essential part of the follower plate 42 as these plates may be made of any suitable material and without a sealing ring but have a predetermined clearance between their edge and the internal wall of the drum 10 if desired.

The extension sleeve 28 may be provided with a stop flange 36 at its lower end, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear and is preferably provided with notches or the like 38 to permit flow of lubricant when the lower end of the sleeve strikes the bottom 26 of the drum 10.

Practical operation In the operation of my combination follower plate and pump tube extension, when the drum 10 is filled with lubricant the assembly of cover 14 and pump 12 with the extension tube 28 and the follower plate 42 mounted thereon as in Fig. 2 may be inserted to the position shown with the follower plate on top of the lubricant. When the pump operates it will draw lubricant from the drum 10 through the inlet openings 20 into the intake tube 13 and create a vacuum under the follower plate 46 which permits atmospheric pressure on top of the plate to force the plate downwardly as the lubricant is pumped from the drum. The follower plate 42 may move relative to the extension sleeve 28 or may cause the sleeve to move in unison with itself depending on the friction of the seal 34 relative to that of 44 and it is of course immaterial which way the device operates.

When the follower plat'e reaches the line a, if the sleeve 28 has resisted movement so that the follower plate comes down and engages the flange 36, thereafter the follower plate and sleeve 28 will continue to move in unison as to the position of Fig. 3 with the extension tube 28 going on down adjacent the bottom 26 of the drum so as to extend the intake tube 18 and it thereby remains effective to withdraw lubricant from the drum even down to the last fractional inch thereof. On the other hand, if the sleeve 28 initially moves with the follower plate 42 it will eventually strike the bottom 26 whereupon the follower plate will move on downwardly in respect to the extension tube and in either case the same effect of proper follower operation is secured and substantially all the contents of the taller-than-normal drum may be pumped out.

It will be noted that there is clearance between the exterior of the intake tube 18 and the interior of the extension tube 28. This provides the space necessary for the lubricant to flow from the drum into the extension tube and find its way to the intake tube when the parts are in the position illustrated in Fig. 3.

When the assembly of pump extension sleeve and follower plate are withdrawn from the empty lubricant drum, a stop ring 40 on the lower end of the intake tube 18 will insure withdrawal of both the follower plate and the extension sleeve with the pump. Where the follower and extension combination are applied to a pump in the field, any desired stop may be substituted for the ring 40, such as a bolt through an opening drilled in the tube at about the elevation of the ring 40.

From the foregoing specification, it Will be obvious that I have provided a means to extend the effectiveness of a relatively short pump intake tube so that it will operate in a taller-than-normal drum and one which cooperates with a follower in such a manner that the follower is effective throughout the height of the drum.

.4 At the same time, the device is still usable in the short drums of normal height.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my disclosed structure without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention. It is therefore my intention to cover by my claims such modified forms of structure or use of mechanical improvements as may reasonably be included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a lubricant pump structure, the combination with an intake tube of a pump; of an extension sleeve slidable thereon and a follower plate slidable on said extension sleeve, the upper end of said extension sleeve being sealed relative to said intake tube and the lower end thereof being extensible to a position beyond the lower end of said intake tube, and the inner edge of said follower plate being sealed relative to said extension tube.

2. In a lubricant pump structure, the combination with an intake tube of a pump having an intake opening closely adjacent the lower end thereof; of an extension sleeve slidable thereon and a follower plate slidable on said extension sleeve, the upper end of said extension sleeve being sealed relative to said intake tube and the inner edge of said follower plate being sealed relative to said extension tube, said extension sleeve being extensible beyond the lower end of said intake tube and being of greater internal diameter than the external diameter of said intake tube to permit the passage of lubricant between the two to said intake opening when said extension tube is so extended.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,998,753 Creveling Apr. 23, 1935 2,178,851 Dodge Nov. 7, 1939 2,630,248 Hinz Mar. 3, 1953 2,344,005 Sundholm Mar. 14, 1944 

